Pet Corner: Why you shouldn’t buy a dog from an online advertisement

Bailey was advertised for sale online as a cockapoo €1,150. Upon delivery it was clear Bailey was a completely different dog to the one advertised. He was subsequently surrendered to Dogs Trust. Picture: Fran Veale.

Many people bought or adopted pets since the arrival of Covid-19 saw us spending more time at home. We adopted our dog almost two years ago from Munster Lost and Found but since March we’ve passed more and more new four-legged friends while out for a walk with Milly and more of our friends and family have taken in new members too.

It’s no surprise people have opened their hearts and their homes during this difficult time, and at one point there were reports of some shelters turning people away as demand was so high. Others were not releasing pets for adoption as restrictions meant it was unsafe for them to inspect a prospective family’s home, a requirement many organisations have before they will allow a dog to be adopted. But with the increased demand for pets, there has also been an increase in people being duped by online adverts.